Warp beam mounting and mechanism for looms



I Da e. 15, 1942. A. J. HERARD, JR I 1,305,422

WARP BEAM MOUNTING AND MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed Jun e 4, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVBNTOR Ann-anus J. HERAR D ,Cl'n.

ATTORNEY Dec. 15, 1942. I A. J. HERARD, JR ,30

WARP BEAM MOUNTING AND MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed June 4, 1942 2 Shets-Sheet 2 k1 ,0 unnin I' 36 37 I .INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 15, 1942 WARP BEAM MOUNTING AND MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Archibald J. Herard, J12, Worcester, Mass, assign- 1 or to Crompton & Knowles Loom Works, Worcester, Mass, a corporation of Massachu setts Application June 4, 1942, Serial No. 445,790

12 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in letofi mechanisms for looms and it is the general object of the invention to provide a let-01f and mounting for the warp beam so constructed as to facilitate removal of the beam from the loom. Upon exhaustion of warp on the beam it is necessary to remove the latter from the loom and replace it with a full beam, but it is also desirable to disturb the let-off mechanism as little as possible in the exchange. It is an important object of my present invention to provide the warp beam with a pivoted support on which the let-ofi mechanism is mounted. The support swings on its pivot to .permit the warp beam to be slid endwise away from the support and out of holding engagement with respect to the let-01f mechanism without disturbing the latter.

vIn my co-pending application Serial No. 414,729 I have shown a hydraulically operated let-off mechanism for a loom which acts to permit rotation of the warp beam so that warp tension may be reduced whenthe tension reaches a given high maximum, and arrest rotation of the beam' when sufiicient warp has been paid off by turning of the beam. It is another object of my present invention to provide a hydraulic let-off mechanism mounted on an angularly movable support for one end of the warp beam which permits the latter to be swung out of alignment with its opposite support for the purpose of removal.

When a hydraulically operated let-off mechanism of the type set forth herein is employed it is desirable to hold the brake shoes against the beam drum so that these partswillnot slip apart when the warp beam is removedfrom the loom. It is another object of my present invention to lock the hydraulic system so that it will hold the shoes and brake drum together during removal of the warp beam. The flexible hydraulic tube utilized in connection with my invention permits the angular motion of the beam support with respect to the loom while holding relation is bydraulically maintained between the two coacting parts of the brake.

In order to permit easy removal of the warp beam I employ a ratchet wheel fixed with respect to the beam for cooperation with holding pawls which are mounted on one of the brake arts. The ratchet wheel slides away from the pawls when the warp beam is removed and the beam is thus disconnected from the let-ofi mechanism without disturbance of the latter.

With these and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and setforth.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein a convenient embodiment of my invention is set forth, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the rear portion'of a loom having my invention applied thereto,

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line 2--2 of Fig. 1 showing the manner in which my invention operates to permit removal of the warp. beam,

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic plan view showing the control for the hydraulic system,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation looking in the direction of arrow 5, Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a view similar to a portion of Fig. 2 but showing the warp beam removed fromits support and the let-off mechanism,

Fig. '7 is a vertical section on line 1-,-"| of Fig.i6, illustrating the ratchet wheel which may beemployed. with my invention,

Fig. 8 is a vertical section on line 8-8 of Fig. 6,

Fig. 9 is an enlarged vertical section on line 9-9 of Fig. 1 through the'master cylinder of the hydraulic system, and

Fig. 10 is an enlarged horizontal section on line Ill-l0, Fig. 8, through the brake cylinder pf the hydraulic system.

Referring'to Figs. 1, 2 and3, I have shown a loom frame I0 with a warp beam II, and a whip roll l2 mounted on the upper ends of two levers l3, one at each side of the loom, pivoted at 14 to brackets l5 which are secured to and project rearwardly from the loom frame. The warp W extends upwardly from the Warp beam, over the whip roll, and then forwardly, or to theright in Fig. 1, to the weaving instrumentalities of the loom not shown. Thewarp beam has a barrel I6 provided with a shaft I! by which it is supported in the loom for rotation. The left hand bracket H: as seen in Fig. 2 is provided with a bearing H! for the left end of the beam shaft and a cap l9 pivoted at 20 to the bracket 15 is held in normal position by bolt 2| but can be swung down to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 4 when the beam is to be removed from the loom.

As seen in Fig. 3 the left hand bracket l5 has mounted thereon a lever 22 which swings hori zontally about a vertical axis 23 on said bracket and has a lateral arm 24 for engagement with the adjacentupright lever I3. Lever'22 is connected to a rod 25 which extends across the loom and is connected to a second horizontal lever 26 pivoted at 21 with respect to the bracket l5 at the right side of the loom as suggested in Fig. 3.

Lever 26 is provided with an arm 28 similar to arm 24 and positioned for engagement with and movement by the lever I3 at the right side of the loom.

A lever 30 is pivoted at 3| to a fixed part of the bracket I5 at the right side of the loom and is connected by link 34 to pivot 32 at the right side of rod 25. A weight 33 is supported by the lever 30 and can move therealong to vary the amount of force exerted on the rod 25 and levers 22 and 26.

When the whip roll I2 moves forwardly the levers I3 engage the lateral'arms 24 and'28 and cause counter-clockwise rotation oflevers 22 and 26 as viewed in Fig. 3, thus-causing movement of rod 25 to the left to rock lever 30 upwardly against the action of weight 33. When the whip roll is free to move rearwardly the weight 3'3 exerts a downward force on lever 30 and by means of link 34 and rod '25 causes the levers 22 and 26 to rock in a clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 3 to cause the arms 24 and 28 to move thelevers I3 and therefore the'whip roll rearw r y- ,7

The matter thus far described may be similar to the structure set forth in the prior patent to Payne No.2,l84,059 to which reference may be had for a further description of the structure and operation of the mechanism which connects the p roll and the weight.

The hydraulic system already referred to includes a master hydraulic pressure unit 35 which as shown in Fig. 9 is provided with a stem or plunger 36 connected to a piston 31 moving in a cylinder 38 containing oil or other fluid suitable for hydraulic operation. The unit 35 has a foot 39 secured to the adjacent bracket I5 and the stem 36 is positioned for engagement with lever 26 when the latter turns to the right as viewed in Fig. 3. When lever 26 moves to the left away from the stem pressure is relieved on the piston 31 and the latter can move to the left to relieve pressure on the fluid within the cylinder.

The master unit and therelation which it has to the lever 26 may be substantially the same as that set forth in my co-pendingfl plioation previously mentioned. It is throught sufiicient for present purposes to state that when the whip roll I2 .moves; forwardly lever 26 is rocked away from cylinder 38 and fluid pressur within master cylinder is reduced, but when the whip roll moves rearwardly the weight 33 acts to rock lever 26 against the stem 36 to increase pressure within the cylinder.

Incarrying my present invention into effect I provide the loom frame with a beam bearing bracket held in fixed position on the frame by bolts 46 and having top and bottom hubs 41 and 48, respectively, through which extends a pivot pin 49. The beam bearing has a hub 5I which fits between the hubs, 41 and 48 and turns on the pin 49. The hub or. bearing 5| may be split if desired and clamped to the pin 49 by a bolt 53. The bearing 50 is provided with a bore which receives the outer adjacent end of the beam shaft I1 and is the means by which the rightend of the warp-beam is supported for rotation. When the cap I8 is in the full lineposition shown in Fig. 4 the bearing 50 will be in the full line position shown in Fig. 2. i 1

Secured to the bearing 58 is a disk 58 having secured thereto bolts 59 on which are pivoted front ,and bacl; brakeshoes 88 and 6|, respectively, see Fig. 8. A link 62- may be used if de- 3 sired to support the free ends ofthe bolts "59.

'thedrum 18.

"cylinder the shoes are forced against a drum Ill,

but when fluid pressure within the brake cylinder is reduced a tension spring 'II connecting the brake shoes move the latter away from the drum.

As shown more clearly in Fig. 6 the drum 10 has a cylindrical shell rigid with a web 16 provided with a hub 11 the bore I8 of which aligns with the bore 55 of the beam bearing 58.

Oppositely disposed ears 88 on the web I6 have pivoted thereto hold pawls BI for engagement with a ratchet wheel 82 bolted as at 83 to the adjacent end of the beam barrel I6. The pawls and teeth of the ratchet wheel are so related that when the drum I6 is held stationary as viewed in Fig. 1 the pawls will enter the ratchet teeth to prevent clockwise rotation of the beam, but when the drum is free to turn, tension in the warp will turn the warpbeam clockwise as viewed in Fig. 1 and the ratchetwheel acting through the pawls will cause right hand rotation of the drum.

In normal operation the be'ainwill be mounted as indicated in full lines in Fig. 2, and'assuini'ng that the whip roll I2is in its rearmost position, lever'26 will force stem 36 to theright todevelop suflicient fluid {pressurewithin the hydraulic system to set thebrake shoes "against thev drum I0 and prevent rotation of the latter and the warp beam; As the whip roll moves forwardly due to consumption of the warp, arm 28 will be advanced to move lever '26 away from thestem 36 and fluid pressure within the hydraulic "system will be loweredto apoint'which 'willpermit the spring 'II to move thebrake shoes 'away'from The warp "beam is then free to turn to pay off sufiicientwarp to compensate for that previously used, and-the 'resultingsla'ckness in the warpthre'ad will permit the weight33 to move the whiproll 'rearwardlyuntil the drum III is again locked stationary.

When the warp-beam isempty' and its removal from the loomis necessary, 'tlieoap l will -be swung to the dotted line positionof Fig. 4fthe warp beam will be fs'w'un'g rarwaidly to the dotted line position of "Fig. 2and willthen be moved endwise away'from the-bearing "-58 and drum 10. The ratchet wheel '82 slides out "of engagement with the p'a'wls Namat -spans are temporarily in'theposit'ion shown in'FigJ 6. The warp beam canth'en be'removed, and afresh beam withafull supply of "warp substituted-by having its shaft slid into'the'bores 1'8 and 55, and its ratchet 'wheel meshed with the pawls, after which the beamis swung-forwardly-to' the full line position of Fig. 2 andcap I 9 is replaced.

It is desirable that the drum be heldTin the position shownin Fig; 6 during removal "of the warp beam and this result can be accompli hed by having the hydraulic system*under-suflicient fluid pressure to force; the brake shoes tightly against the dru m I8. In order to'insure sufficient pressure for holding the drum imposition I use a hook 9 0 -piv0ted at 9 I lto 4' bracki-zt I5 and mount a-holding pirfSZ 'f'ortheho'ok on the adjacent lever I3. "The hook is0'f *siich length as to maintain the whip roll rearwardly far enough to permit weight 33 to force lever 26 against the stem 36 and thus maintain pressure within the system. It will be understood that the flexible fluid conductor 6'! permits turning of the bearing 50 and the disk 58 while the master cylinder is held in fixed position.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a loom with a let-off mechanism mounted on a pivoted support for the warp beam. It will also be seen that the flexible fluid conductor 6? permits turning of the let-off mechanism with the beam bearing and therefore enables the master cylinder 35 to maintain suflicient pressure within the brake to hold the drum 10 fixed in the position shown in Fig. 6 while the beam is being removed. It will also be seen that the ratchet wheel 82 and the connection with the let-off mechanism which it has through the pawls 8| facilitates removal of a warp beam without disturbance of the let-off mechanism. Also, the hook 90 or its equivalent can be utilized to maintain fiuid pressure within the hydraulic system sufficient to hold the drum In in the position shown in Fig. 6 while the beam is being removed. Furthermore, it will be seen that the let-off mechanism and beam bearing which facilitates removal of the warp beam can conveniently be mounted on a unit which swings around the pivot pin 49.

Having thus described my invention it will be seen that changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, but what I claim is:

1. In a warp let-off mechanism for a loom having a frame and a warp beam provided with a shaft, a support for the shaft pivoted on the loom frame, a drum operatively connected to the warp beam, a hydraulic system including a master cylinder mounted in fixed position on the loom frame, a flexible tube connected thereto, and a hydraulic brake for the drum mounted on the support and connected to said tube, said master cylinder capable of acting through the tube to cause the hydraulic brake to control movement of the drum as the support moves pivotally on the loom frame because of the flexibility of said tube.

2. In a warp let-off for a loom having a frame on which is removably mounted a warp beam ible tube connecting the master cylinder and actuator, the operator effective for different angular positions of the support with respect to the loom to cause the master cylinder to operate the actuator and cause the latter to hold the shoes against the drum.

4. In a warp let-off mechanism for a loom having a frame on which a warp beam is removably mounted, a shaft forming part of the warp beam, adrum mounted on the shaft and rotating with the beam, an actuator movable with respect to the frame to holding position, a master hydraulic cylinder mounted in fixed position on the loom frame for engagement with provided with a shaft, a support for the shaft pivotally mounted on the loom frame and movable angularly with respect to the latter to facilitate removal of the warp beam, a brake drum operatively connected to the warp beam and a hydraulic system for the brake drum to control movement of the latter, said system including a master cylinder fixed with respect to the loom frame, a flexible tube connected to the cylinder, and a hydraulic brake for the drum connected to said tube and mounted on the support in position to engage the drum for all angular positions of the support with respect to the loom frame.

3. In a warp let-off mechanism for a loom having a frame carrying a warp beam provided with a shaft, a support pivoted on the loom frame for said shaft, a drum operatively connected to the beam, brake shoes for the drum mounted on said support, a hydraulic actuator for the brake shoes mounted on the support, a hydraulic master cylinder, means to support the master cylinder in fixed position on the loom frame,

an operator for the master cylinder, and a flexand operation by said actuator when the latter is in-holding position, a support for the shaft pivoted on the loom frame for swinging movement when the beam is removed from the loom, hydraulic brake mechanism for the drum mounted on the support, and a flexible connection between the master cylinder and the hydraulic brake mechanism effective to maintain holding relation between the drum and the hydraulic brake mechanism for all angular positions of the support with respect to the loom frame when the actuator is in holding position.

5. In a warp let-off mechanism for a loom having a frame on which is removably mounted a Warp beam having a shaft, a support for the shaft mounted pivotally on the loom frame to facilitate removal of the Warp beam from the loom, brake shoes mounted onthe support, a brake drum for the beam to engage the shoes and mounted on the shaft, a driving connection between the drum and the warp beam releasable by movement of the beam in the direction away from the drum, and hydraulic means including a master hydraulic cylinder fixed on the loom frame and a flexible tube connecting the master cylinder to the brake cylinder to hold the shoes against the drum to support the latter when the ,warp beam and shaft are moved longitudinally away from and out of engagement with the drum.

6. In a warp let-01f for a loom having a frame on which is removably mounted a warp beam having a shaft, a support on the loom frame for the shaft, a drum on the shaft normally operatively connected to the beam and turning therewith but disconnectable from the beam by movement of the latter in a direction away from the drum, hydraulic brake means on the support to engage the drum, a hydraulic system including a master cylinder hydraulically connected to the brake means, and means to cause the master cylinder to actuate the brake means and cause the latter to hold the drum and prevent the latter from moving with the beam when the beam moves away from the drum.

'7. In a warp let-off for a loom having a frame on which is removably mounted a warp beam having a shaft, a support on the loom frame for the shaft, a ratchet wheel surrounding the shaft and secured to the beam, a drum on the shaft, pawls on the drum to engage the ratchet and cause the drum and beam to turn together in one direction, said ratchet wheel being movable away from the pawls when the beam is moved in a direction away from the drum, hydraulic brake means on the support to engage the drum, a hydraulic system including a master cylinder hydraulically connected to the brake means, and means to cause the hydraulic system acting through the brake means to prevent the drum and pawls from moving with the beam when the latter moves away from the drum.

-8. In a'warp let-off for a loom havingaframe on which is removably -mounted ;a :warp :beam having arshaft, a support for the shaft pivotally mounted on the loom frame, ,a ratchet Wheel 'surrounding'the shaft and secured :to the beam,

a drum loosely mounted on theshaft, :pawls on the drum to engage the ratchet wheel and cause the drum and beam to move together in one direction, said ratchet being movable away from the pawls when the beam moves away'from the drum, a hydraulic brake on the pivoted support to engage the drum, a master hydraulic cylinder, a flexible tube to maintain hydraulic connection between the master cylinder and the brake when the support moves pivotally on the loom frame to facilitate removal of the beam, and-means to cause the master cylinder acting through the tube and brake means to hold the drum and prevent movement of said drum and pawls'with the beam when the latter and the ratchet wheel move away from the drum.

9. In a warp let-off for a loom having a frame on which is removably mounted a Warp'beam having a shaft, a support on the loom frame for the shaft, a drum on the shaft normally operatively connected to the beam and turning therewith but disconnectable from the beam by movement of the latter in a direction awayfrom hold the drum, and means to hold the operator;

in holding position and thereby hold the brake and drum during movement of the warp beam away from the drum.

110. A combined ibeam bearing and leteoif unit ing .for .the shaft, brake shoes on the support for ;the drum, ahydraulic brake cylinder mountedonthe-supportand connected to the shoes'for operation of the =latter,:and a flexible 'tube'con- .nected to the brake cylinder forattachment .to .the master hydraulic cylinder.

:11. :Acombined-beam bearing and let-off :unit

.for-a loom having aframe provided with a pivot .and a warp :b'eamprovided iwithra friction drum and a shaft, :said .uni :Provided with means .to

receive the gpivot of the .frame and :having a bearing for said .shaft, :a :disksecured to .said support ;.around said ,shaft "bearing, :a hydraulic cylinder .mounted on said disk, and brake shoes for thedrum pivotally. mounted :on :the disk. and

-- extending :into operative relation with respect to the hydraulic cylinder.

12. A combined beam; bearing :and let-offlunit for a loom :havingqaframe,provided :with aipivot and a :warp beam ;provided.with-.a afriction ;drum anda:shaft,zsaidzunitthaving:meansifor receiving :said 1 pivot-of the frame, a -bearing :on :said

support to receive the shaft, ,a hydraulic brake cylinder mounted on the suppo1:t;;and brake shoes pivoted on the support :and extending substantially concentrically :around theraxis'; of; said: shaft bearing I and -'operat-ively related'to :the .:hydraulic brake cylinder.

ARCHIBALD J. lHERARD, .JR. 

